What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Highgate
People
Population	999Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average
	Topsham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Topsham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Topsham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Highgate and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT	$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average
	Highgate and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT
	Highgate and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$398Highest 26% below VT	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT
	Topsham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,006Highest 21% below VT	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	18.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 49% above VT	31 minLowest 32% above VT
Work from home	14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Highgate and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	Waits River Union High District #36	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	None in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.